The Fire HD 8 Plus is a premium variant of the Fire HD 8 and it was refreshed in the spring of this year. This was the first time in the company's history that there were different devices within the same product line. It will be interesting to see if this two-tiered strategy continues for the Fire HD 10 when it is next due for a refresh or if it was just a way for Amazon to try out some new features.
I reviewed the Fire HD 8 a few weeks ago, and I found it to be a good device if you want to watch videos and play games on it. Point to Amazon. If that was my review of the regular Fire HD 8, where does that leave the Fire HD 8 Plus?
The Fire HD 8 Plus was released by Amazon in May 2020. The Plus folded in the same colors as the standard model of the Fire 8, but in a different color. The Fire HD 8 started at $110, and though it has had a few sales since its debut, it is still retailing for the same price.
The best Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus deals are available today.
The Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus have a lot in common, but I would like to focus on the areas where the 8 Plus stands out above its sibling.
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Let's take a closer look at the internals. The Fire HD 8 has two key areas where it is better than the other one. The latter with its 9W included wiredUSB-C charging brick is supposed to result in at least one hour of time savings in charging. Don't get me wrong, these are both welcome improvements over the regular Fire HD 8 and previous generations, but I don't think they are all that significant in everyday use.
The biggest selling point of the Fire HD 8 Plus is its wireless charging capability. I'm aware that the Fire HD 8 Plus is one of the only tablets capable of charging wireless, and it's also the most affordable one.
In my opinion, wireless charging is a valuable addition, even though I first thought it was just a novelty. As soon as you place the device into the stand, you get a visual and audible cue that the device is charging. When you place the Fire tablets in the stand, Show Mode is turned on by default, so you don't have to think about it every time. If you want to turn this off, you can do it from the top of the quick settings menu.
With the optional wireless charging dock and Show Mode, you get two devices in one.
The key selling points are the wireless charging dock and instant show mode. There is no reason to have a smart screen in the same room if you decide to buy them together. The features give you two devices for the same price. You can use a smart screen when docked and charged, and you don't have to worry about wires or plugging it in.
It is the same experience as with the Fire HD 8. The screen and speakers work well for basic content consumption, and I think the sound is acceptable even in show mode. It's not bad, even though the sound isn't as full as my other smart speakers. Is that the camera? There are people there. They're not good for long-term photography. They work, but they don't.
The image is the first of three.
The image was taken by Jeramy Johnson.
The image was taken by Jeramy Johnson.
The image was taken by Jeramy Johnson.
I mentioned in my review of the regular Fire HD 8 that I didn't like how quickly the device became fingerprint-y, at least that was the case with the Black review unit that I received. I'm happy to report that the lighter colors, such as the Slate tones of the Fire HD 8 Plus, do a better job of not showing daily smudges and marks.
Amazon tries to differentiate the Fire HD 8 Plus from the Fire HD 8 by emphasizing the wireless and fast charging capabilities, as well as improved internals. I don't think I have noticed much of a difference in my usage because of the additional RAM that this device includes. If I played more games, that's probably where it would be more obvious, but I mostly use the tablets for watching Prime Video, reading my books, and browsing. It did the same things as the HD 8.
When browsing websites in Amazon's Silk browser, as well as when moving from screen to screen, I still saw some stuttering and intermittent scrolling issues. It's not a deal-breaker, but not what you would expect.
All of the additional services Amazon tries to get you to sign up for was something that struck me when I first set up this device. I know it's Amazon's walled garden, but it was a big turn off. It would have been better for Amazon to surface those sign-up requests as occasional notifications or lockscreen ads with special offers. It's similar to setting up a lower-end phone that you buy from a carrier, with all of the splash screens and bloatware.
For all of the great parts of the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, the lack of Google Play Store access remains a thorn in the side.
We can't have a Fire tablet review without mentioning the elephant in the room, which is the fact that Google apps and services are not available without some sleight of hand. It's not hard for those who know how to sideload, but it's not easy for the majority of the Fire's customers. You can access the app from the web browser or third-party apps, but it's still not possible to get the app on Fire tablets without side loading.
The Fire HD 8 Plus' price and position in Amazon's lineup are the biggest questions I have for it. It's not that the device is expensive in comparison to other tablets, it's just that it's less expensive than other tablets. It's that it's more expensive than the regular Fire HD 8 and more expensive than the Fire HD 10, at least when you go all-in with the wireless charging dock.
I'm not clear where this device fits in Amazon's tablet lineup, or who it's really for.
It would be great if Amazon could offer a discount on the Fire HD 8 Plus with the wireless charging dock in order to encourage more people to buy it. It's possible that Amazon is worried about cutting into its Echo Show business or that it can't offer price breaks on the accessory combo right now. I don't know how many people are willing to pay an additional $50 for the accessories required to differentiate the Fire tablets from their cheaper alternatives.
It will be interesting to see if the feature is included in the Kids Edition of the Fire tablets. I'd doubt it based on how thick the kid-friendly cases are, but maybe those protective enclosures will shrink, or the wireless capabilities will improve, and we might see a similar show mode and wireless charging feature in future Kids Edition devices.
One more thing. The Fire tablets do not have a physical camera cover, which is a privacy concern if you are a little bit paranoid. It's something to think about for those who want to leave their Fire HD 8 in Show Mode on the wireless charging dock.
You're going to want to take a look at the SAMSUNG GALAXY Tab S6 if you're looking for the best experience out there. It has a beautiful display, a keyboard cover, and S Pen accessories. There's only one problem. It costs a lot.
You can't go wrong with the entry-level iPad, it's a great device if you want a great device. It's using an operating system that's technically iPadOS, but it's a well-made device with software support for upwards of five years.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a really good device that can run a variety of applications, and it also comes with a keyboard and case accessory. If you want to do mostly tablet-y things, but also want to get some work done, this is the device for you.
If you want to do the basics like watching streaming videos, social media, and light gaming, you should get the Amazon Fire HD 8. The Fire HD 8 Plus has the same features. Not everyone will want or need the wireless and fast charging that the Fire HD 8 Plus has to offer.
Check our buyer's guide for a full list of the best tablets on the market.
What is it for?
It isn't for anyone.
Amazon did not get to be one of the most valuable companies in the world by not knowing what its customers want, nor did it get there by refusing to make some bold bets. The company has been making reliable and affordable tablets for almost a decade, and is the only other brand besides Apple's iPad with a significant market share.
The Fire tablets have gotten better with each generation, and I have owned or used over half a dozen of them. The Fire HD 8 Plus is one of the exceptions. If you want the best experience for consuming content that is not an iPad, this is the device for you. It has a full HD screen, decent sound, and a smart home utility with a wireless charging dock and show mode.
The Fire HD 8 Plus is in a strange spot in Amazon's tablets. It isn't much better than the similarly specced Fire HD 8, and is nearly the same price as the Fire HD 10. The wireless charging capabilities are cool and novel, but I don't think they are worth the extra cost to the average person. It sounds harsh, but it is likely how this will play out. Pick up this tablets and its accessories if you can afford it. Don't fret if you can't. I don't believe you are missing out on a lot.
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